short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2008-01-04
websites of note
Mike LaRosa's Page. "..Once upon a time we were moonshine, rushing down the throat of a giraffe..." A poem about 911 and the times we live in speaks in the background. We need to listen to what happens when we decide to "...perpetuate retribution..."
Not to be overlooked - photos of wood and wind powered energy source, links to stuff on rising oceans and problems arising from contrail pollution... "...let us make a toast with that last glass of oil..."
Does Capitalism cause mental illness?. Rhetorical question on my part but let's look at the numbers anyway. Combine this with Bushco's mandate to force doctors to conduct very basic mental health screenings of children in poor families. I guess only the indigent become mentally ill.
While collar crime prosecutions lowered. Oh, this is a surprise. Good that a lack of conscience is not a psychiatric disorder.
"Normalization" an oxymoron? The article in Eurozine starts thusly: ""Normal" is one of those words that seem not to need a definition; its meaning appears self-evident. Besides, because of the enormous flexibility of its usages, the conditions for a definition – conceptual strictness and clear semantic articulation – are hardly achievable: everyday routine is "normal", though what, precisely, is "everyday routine"?'
The naked truth about waging Peace
Slick tongued Swift Boat liars plan for future attacks. This active and creatively deceptive tax-exempt 527 group has plenty of money to play with. Houston home builder Bob Perry, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire drugstore impresario and investor Harold Simmons--gave a combined $9.5 million ($4.45 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively) to keep the group's propaganda machine well oiled and running. We can expect to hear a lot more from them as the election gets closer in NOvember.
Mike LaRosa's Page. "..Once upon a time we were moonshine, rushing down the throat of a giraffe..." A poem about 911 and the times we live in speaks in the background. We need to listen to what happens when we decide to "...perpetuate retribution..."Not to be overlooked - photos of wood and wind powered energy source, links to stuff on rising oceans and problems arising from contrail pollution... "...let us make a toast with that last glass of oil..."
Does Capitalism cause mental illness?. Rhetorical question on my part but let's look at the numbers anyway. Combine this with Bushco's mandate to force doctors to conduct very basic mental health screenings of children in poor families. I guess only the indigent become mentally ill. While collar crime prosecutions lowered. Oh, this is a surprise. Good that a lack of conscience is not a psychiatric disorder. "Normalization" an oxymoron? The article in Eurozine starts thusly: ""Normal" is one of those words that seem not to need a definition; its meaning appears self-evident. Besides, because of the enormous flexibility of its usages, the conditions for a definition – conceptual strictness and clear semantic articulation – are hardly achievable: everyday routine is "normal", though what, precisely, is "everyday routine"?' The naked truth about waging Peace Slick tongued Swift Boat liars plan for future attacks. This active and creatively deceptive tax-exempt 527 group has plenty of money to play with. Houston home builder Bob Perry, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire drugstore impresario and investor Harold Simmons--gave a combined $9.5 million ($4.45 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively) to keep the group's propaganda machine well oiled and running. We can expect to hear a lot more from them as the election gets closer in NOvember.Labels: politics, web surfing, websites
¶ 07:46 0 comments
2008-01-03
futuristics
The White House of the Future as envisioned by GorillaGrow.org
The White House of the Future as envisioned by GorillaGrow.org
Labels: drug policies, marijuana, White House
¶ 21:48 0 comments
2008-01-02
water
Finally, after more than 3 months, we have running water again! We have a shallow well that has been almost empty since September. Barely 12 foot deep, lined with brownstone rocks and reliant only on the contents of the water-table available in the sandy soil that rests atop ledge rock.
Since Christmas the well has been slowly filling back up, but when we tried priming the pump nothing happened. When the level rose over three feet, we called a plumber, who came over, threw water into the pipe but nothing came of it. They didn't even use half a gallon, didn't check the well, didn't diagnose the problem, only told us that there was not enough water in the well. From
past experience I knew otherwise.
I talked the problem out with a couple of folks and decided it had to be the foot valve was stuck. I bought a new one, in case the present one needed replacing [it is, after all, over 35 years old] and yesterday we banged around the pipe. It twisted and turned about but would not budge from the elbow coupling.
We were about to give up and take a hacksaw to the pipe, when I said 'let's try priming it one more time.' Low and behold, it worked!
So now we have running water again. Time to take a bath in the old porcelain claw foot tub. We won't be using the plumber [with whom we've done business for years] anymore.
Finally, after more than 3 months, we have running water again! We have a shallow well that has been almost empty since September. Barely 12 foot deep, lined with brownstone rocks and reliant only on the contents of the water-table available in the sandy soil that rests atop ledge rock. Since Christmas the well has been slowly filling back up, but when we tried priming the pump nothing happened. When the level rose over three feet, we called a plumber, who came over, threw water into the pipe but nothing came of it. They didn't even use half a gallon, didn't check the well, didn't diagnose the problem, only told us that there was not enough water in the well. From
past experience I knew otherwise.I talked the problem out with a couple of folks and decided it had to be the foot valve was stuck. I bought a new one, in case the present one needed replacing [it is, after all, over 35 years old] and yesterday we banged around the pipe. It twisted and turned about but would not budge from the elbow coupling.
We were about to give up and take a hacksaw to the pipe, when I said 'let's try priming it one more time.' Low and behold, it worked!
So now we have running water again. Time to take a bath in the old porcelain claw foot tub. We won't be using the plumber [with whom we've done business for years] anymore.
PICTURE CREDITS: Water faucet: Uncommon Goods || Claw foot tub: Windspire Inn
Labels: drought, resources. wells, water
¶ 23:44 0 comments
2008-01-01
weblog update
From now on, folks who post in the comments section will have to come up with a better name than "Anonymous".
I have made this decision after some cowardly soul bared his or her opinion on the Predatory Reporting entry below. Not only was the commenter snide and sarcastic, he or she tried to change the subject and/or missed the point of what I'd said. The entry did not ask for sympathy for people engaged in reprehensible acts [pedophiles] but to expand the exposure to other people [corporate criminals, con men and the like] who cause harm to others as well.
Mind you, I think Chris Hansen's show is every bit as tawdry and disgusting as the characters his film crew entraps. As for "...politicizing the news..." the Anonymous poster apparently fails to notice that the very fact that a civilian [Chris Hansen] sets up, arranges with police to arrest Hansen's prey, and televises the bust for some titillating sex-infused entrapment entertainment, says that the whole endeavor was politicized a long time ago. But to call the program "news" is pushing it.
I'll get off the soap box now.
I have made this decision after some cowardly soul bared his or her opinion on the Predatory Reporting entry below. Not only was the commenter snide and sarcastic, he or she tried to change the subject and/or missed the point of what I'd said. The entry did not ask for sympathy for people engaged in reprehensible acts [pedophiles] but to expand the exposure to other people [corporate criminals, con men and the like] who cause harm to others as well.Mind you, I think Chris Hansen's show is every bit as tawdry and disgusting as the characters his film crew entraps. As for "...politicizing the news..." the Anonymous poster apparently fails to notice that the very fact that a civilian [Chris Hansen] sets up, arranges with police to arrest Hansen's prey, and televises the bust for some titillating sex-infused entrapment entertainment, says that the whole endeavor was politicized a long time ago. But to call the program "news" is pushing it.
I'll get off the soap box now.
PIX CREDIT: The Common Sense Farm
Labels: Chris Hansen, opinion, predatory reporting, site maintenance
¶ 15:35 0 comments
alternative fuels
Why settle for bio-desiel when burning wood will do? I'm not cure I would ride a Hog that had a small wood furnace for a sissy bar, but who am I to argue? The picture was taken as part of a story in a Florida newspaper in 1981. Anybody know more about this guy's efforts and what came of them?
Why settle for bio-desiel when burning wood will do? I'm not cure I would ride a Hog that had a small wood furnace for a sissy bar, but who am I to argue? The picture was taken as part of a story in a Florida newspaper in 1981. Anybody know more about this guy's efforts and what came of them?
Labels: alternative fuels, motoring, wod stoves
¶ 15:29 2 comments
2007-12-31
auld lang syne
PHOTOS: Fireworks from Chromasia; Fred & Ginger from The Gay Divorcee
Labels: 2008, celebration, new years' eve
¶ 21:43 0 comments
2007-12-30
culinary oddities
I found my Buddha's Hand on the rejects rack at the Middletown Stop & Shop. There were two in a green Styrofoam tray for the attractive price of 75 cents [US]. Nobody working in the Produce section knew what it was used for, but I bought it anyway. Made for an intriguing ornament in a fruit dish on Christmas Day. That's it "holding" a tangerine. The fruit has a distinctive, albeit subtle, citrusy scent. Quite pleasant, actually.
When I got home I Googled Buddha's Hand and learned that it's used as a garnish for various Chinese and other Asian cuisine dishes. It's also made into a candy, rather like one might do with lemon or orange rinds after boiling in a sugar syrup. Caroline Carter writing on San Francisco Foodie provided a recipe for this confection that's quite simple.
The magazine Flavor and Fortune provides a brief history and a couple of recipes about and for the use of Buddha's Hand citron. The article noted that one Buddha's Hand can sell at Balducci's in New York City for $10 [US] so I got quite a deal
When I got home I Googled Buddha's Hand and learned that it's used as a garnish for various Chinese and other Asian cuisine dishes. It's also made into a candy, rather like one might do with lemon or orange rinds after boiling in a sugar syrup. Caroline Carter writing on San Francisco Foodie provided a recipe for this confection that's quite simple.
The magazine Flavor and Fortune provides a brief history and a couple of recipes about and for the use of Buddha's Hand citron. The article noted that one Buddha's Hand can sell at Balducci's in New York City for $10 [US] so I got quite a deal
Labels: citrus fruits, foods, garnish
¶ 07:41 1 comments
personal credo
Over the next week I'll be posting an assortment of my own personal values statements. This is the first of the series. Originally penned in 1983, it outlines what I see as essential qualities for human survival.
Over the next week I'll be posting an assortment of my own personal values statements. This is the first of the series. Originally penned in 1983, it outlines what I see as essential qualities for human survival.
Labels: cultural values, human condition, social comment
¶ 01:41 0 comments
pet therapy
We've been down with flu-like illnesses of late but the cats are doing their part to providing skilled nursing care.
Our cats haven't been officially trained but they make a nice blanket.
By the way, I'm curious as to whether or not people like the posterized effect or is it too difficult to see the image?
We've been down with flu-like illnesses of late but the cats are doing their part to providing skilled nursing care.Our cats haven't been officially trained but they make a nice blanket.
By the way, I'm curious as to whether or not people like the posterized effect or is it too difficult to see the image?
Labels: delta society, pets, rainy day activities
¶ 00:16 0 comments
